Synthesis of Indolizines through Oxidative Linkage of C-C and C-N Bonds from 2-Pyridylacetates

Synthesis of indolizine-1-carboxylates through the Ortoleva-King reaction of 2-pyridylacetate followed by the Aldol condensation under mild reaction conditions has been described. This protocol is compatible with a broad range of functional groups, and it has been also successfully extended to unsaturated ketones, bringing about the regioselective formation of benzoyl-substituted indolizines through Michael addition followed by C-N bond formation, which are difficult to prepare by previous methods in a single step.